I have two sets of silverplate. One is a set of "Glamour" I found at a garage sale, it even had the box. . Originally a service for 12, it had only enough pieces for ten. But that's okay. My family is small-four of us (me,DH,2 kids), plus a single sister and a married SIL with DH and their 2 kids. So ten is more than enough. The other set is complete service for 12, in box, which I inheirited when my GodMother died over 30 years ago. I noticed the full size forks of both sets have long, thin, pointy yet strong tines. Perfect for steak. Someone once asked me if I wanted to buy another set. No way. And when my two daughters grow up (and marry,I hope) I'll give each one a set. And then I'll buy myself a set of stainless.

When I married and received my sterling silver pieces, I didn't notice until years after that amongst the knives I had one dinner knife and the rest were luncheon.

I'll never forget who gave us that dinner knife :o)

Luncheon forks in my mother's set of silver were the same as the salad forks. I just ordered double salad forks for my set to have enough salad and dessert forks.

And then the china sets had luncheon plates too, which were larger than the salad plates but considerably smaller than the dinner plates.

I do love old table services of silver and china. I especially love the finer Limoges as it reminds me of all the things my grandmother inherited from her family. Lovely shaped pitchers, pickle dishes, and sets of china. When we washed the dishes and I held a tea cup in my hand to dry, it was as if I were holding an egg shell in my hand. You could see the outline of your hand through the plate or cup if you held the plate up to the light and put your hand behind the plate.

My mother's sterling has both dinner and luncheon service -- and all those other passe things like demitasse spoons and seafood forks -- also silver shells for (ick!)cigarettes. As a child I always wanted a luncheon fork instead of a big, heavy dinner fork. (The luncheon forks in her set are different from the salad forks -- are smaller versions of the dinner forks. The salads have a competely different shape.)

I'm a stainless girl myself. Seldom crack the boxes on Mom's or my own silver. Should probably take it all in to one of those places that buy it by the weight.

I am reading my own post here, and Chisue, I agree on the demitasse spoons and seafood forks....gone are the days of entertaining in the grand old way (when servants polished those itty-bitty spoons!)

BUT....

I will say this....a sterling silver fork, containing a portion of whatever food is upon it, when placed into one's mouth, and subsequently drawn out between closed lips, has a certain, lovely, velvety feel to it.

Something to which stainless steel just cannot arise.

OK, I'm off for seconds!!!!! (Licking lips!!)

acey -- If I could find someone I could trust to do that polishing...I might USE that stuff! My sinus situation won't take the odor, so I try to leave it all tucked away.

(Will never forget the new cleaning woman who 'polished' an antique silver pitcher with Brillo. YIKES! No wonder I hesitate to hire help.)

omgoodness, chisue..i would have flipped out...just as i about did when my aunt was having MY grandmother clean HER stuff! and she'd given her not easy silver polish but that old glass wax pink stuff (anyone remember that?)

not a good practice, but wrapping silver in seran wrap keeps it from tarnishing...

Anyone seen the tiny silver salt dish spoons? They are so cute. I understand that years ago they sold from antique stores rapidly for drug use. They were used at each place setting with a little crystal dish of salt for each person's use.

This reminds me of my mother. She always liked using the 3-tined forks for cooking, HOWEVER, she wanted very old ones. I tried buying her a couple and that's when she told me why: The old ones were thinner tines and they were sharper. And she took one out and showed me. Sho-nuff, t'was. When I moved out she gave me one of her prized possessions. But not her favorite ones! And yes, I noticed the difference and saw the better control. Hard to describe. This just reminded me. I haven't seen it for a long time. VERY long time. Maybe a roomie abscounded with it or I misplaced it. Maybe I'll have to watch garage sales for a new, er, old one.